Pipe-coupling



J. GORMAN. PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED AP R. 8,1918.

Patented Nov. 9-

7320621507 c7521: G0 rrwaawz at? at tf PATENT orrice.

JOHN GORMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTIS.

rrrn-courmne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9,1920.

Application filed April 8, 191 8.. Seri a1 No. 227,188.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

zen ot the United States residing; at Boston,

in the county of Suffolkand Stateof lillassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Pipe-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipe couplings and particularly to pipe couplings for water mains and the like. r

In building pipelines for water it has heretofore been necessary to fully complete the line before any use whatever could be made thereof. Also in repairing a pipe-line of this kind it has heretofore been necessary to shut off the wholcgof the line from the supply in case of break andwhile repairing the latter. My invention has for its obiect to provide a coupling apparatus for use in pipe-lines, particularly water mains and the like, which will make it possible during the operation of installing the same, to use the completed portions of the line before the latter is wholly completed, or to use a portion of aninstallecl line while another part thereof is undergoingrepairs.

. To these ends my invention consists of a coupling apparatus of the character described comprising a bodv made withtwo ports adapted at their ends to'be connected with the ends of two pipe sections. Between these two ports the body ismade with a transverse chamber into which said-ports open. said chamber having a mouth or opening at the exterior of the bodv overwhich either one of two covers onclosure members may be fastened-by means of bolts,"or other selected fastening devices so that either closure may besubstitutcd for theloth'er at will. One oi these two closures is constructed with a gate or wall" preferably integral therewith adapted to enter said. transverse chamber and cut off communication between the two pipe sectio s when said closure is placed in position to close the outer end of said chamber. The other'cover or closure is made plain that is, it is not made with in accordance with my invention, showing the gated closure in position. I

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the pipe coupling shown in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1 but showing the plain cover or closure in position.

Figx is a section on line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section one line 55of F ig 1.

Figs. 6 and 7 show modifications.

My new pipe coupling apparatus comprises a loody.1;two closures or covers 2 and 3, and cover fastening devices 4, the latter being; herein shown asholts.

The body 1 is made with two ports 5. and. 6 adapted at their outer ends to receive the. ends of pipe sections? and8 which abut at their inner ends against shoulders 9 andlO. provided within said body near the inner ends of said ports5 and 6.-

. Between the twov ports 5 and 6 the body 1 is made'with achainber 11 having parallel guideways 12 at each side thereof in the form-pf grooves adapted to receive the sides ot a gate or wall 13 which is preferably cast integralwith the cover This chamber 11, as well as each groove 12. has one endthereof opening upon the exterior of the body so that when the cover Qis removechorplaced in position. the gate 13 can he slid into, or out of, the grooves 12 as it is shoved into or drawn out of said chamber. The body 1 is made with a flange 14 surrounding the mouth of the chamber 11,.and this fiance is formed with a series of bolt holes 15 which are positioned andspaced to register with correspondingly positioned and spaced bolt holes 16, and 16 provided. respectively, through covers 2 and 3. T bus the two. covers are made to be interchangeable. that is, either can be applied to the bodv and se cured thereon in position to close the outer end of chamber 11 by mea s of bolts 4, and the latter'not only serve. to hold the covers in pos tion. but the gate; 1-3 also when cover Qisinplace.

l llhen my new coupling apparatus is used inconnection with the construction otanew pipe-line, a number of said couplings is permanentlvinstal ed "in the line. I said couplinns being distributed at intervals tliroughoutth'e lenoth yoff sairl ine, When the couplings are first installed the cap 2 bovine the gate or w ll on it is used on ea h until the next coupling isinstalled withits gated cover in place when the coverQ of the;

preceding coupling is removed and the cover 3 substituted. Thus it will be clear that completed sections of the pipe line that are; closed in by the lastgated coupling may be opened up for use before the whole of the line is completed. 'lhat 1s, so long there is one coupling with its gated cover in place line is to bejopened-for alteration or addi-' tion, with its gated cover in place so that the pipe line may be continued n use up to the point where the coupling is located'while used.

pling apparatus, the'essential idea of whose construction and mode of operatlon lnvolves theprovlsion of two interchangeable covers.

or closures for the transverse interior chamher, one of said covers closing only the outer end or" saidchamber and the other cover being a double closure which not only closes the outer end ofthe chamber but also cuts ofi communication between the two pipe sec tions joined by. the coupling. In this con- In case of a break or'le'ak in a pipe line provided 'atintervals with couplings having their chambers closed by plain-covers 3 as described, the linecan' be quickly repaired without requiring the whole of the latter to be put outof use during the repair operations as has heretofore been necessary. p, Also, by installingpne of mynew couplings in a pipeline i originally "constructed, as heretofore, without such couplingmthe same can be repaired oradded to with ease and'despatch without requiring'the' whole ofthe line to be put out. of use, and when such repairs or-additions have been completed the bodyl with its plaincover may be left inposition withouta'dding materiallynif atall, to the cost of i the repairs or addltlons for the reason that the coupling above described is easily installed and is'ofvery simple and inexpensive construction? r the" whole system is free to be said body.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide-means for fastening the coupling to the end oi the pipe that is connected with the supply. l i hen such is required I may resortto the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7. V In Fig. 6 I have shown the pipe 7, which may-be the pipe connected with the supply, as provided with a two-partdiange l7 clamped securely on said pipe by means of bolts 18. This flange 17 is made with a series of bolt'holes 19 positioned and spaced to register with belt hol s 20 provided through flanges 21 on body 1, said holesreceivingv bolts 22 by means or which the two flanges-are fastened securely together. It the body 1 is" applied to the bellend of pipe 7., as shown in Fig. 7, then a one-piece ring formed with bolt holesP A may be used as shown.

What I claim is:

1. A; pipe couplin comprising a body formed with two ports for connection with the ends of two pipes and with a chamber intermediate said ports with which the inner ends otthe latter communicate, said chamber being extended at one side only to V V the exterior ofthe body so as to provide an It will thus be seen that my'invention is; .not a valve but thatit is primarily a cou-' entrance and exit; a removable 'closure wholly covering said entrance and exit made upon one side thereof with a gate adapted to occupy said chamber and shut ofi communication between said ports, and means sep'arably fastening said closure to 2. A pipe'coupling comprising a one-piece body formed with two ports for connection with the ends of two pipes and with a chamber intermediate said ports with which the inner ends of the latter communicate, said chamber being extended at one side only to the exterior of the body so as to provide an entrance and exit; a removable closure plate covering said entrance and exit and made upon' one side thereof with an inte fral perpendicular gate occupying said chamber and shutting oil communication between saidports, and'rneans removably fastening said closure plate to said body.

3. Apipe coupling. apparatus comprising a one-piece body formed with two short axially alined ports and with achamber intermediate said portswith which the inner ends of the latter communicate, "said chamberbeinp entendedat onesi'de only to the exterior of the bodyso as toprovide an entrance and exit; two removable and interchangeable closures for said entran'ceand" apparatus comprising a one-piece body formed with two short axially alined ports and with a chamber intermediate said ports with which the inner ends of the latter communicate, said chamber being extended at one side only to the exterior of the body so as to provide an entrance and exit; two removable and interchangeable closures for said entrance and exit, one of which is made plain and the other of which is made with an integral gate adapted to occupy position within said chamber between said ports to shut off communication between the latter; bolts for removably fastening either of said closures to said body; of a flange attachable to the end of a pipe, and bolts for tastening said flange to said body to hold the end of,said pipe within one of said sockets.

5. The combination with a pipe coupling apparatus comprising a one-piece body formed with two axially alined ports and with a chamber intermediate said ports with which the inner ends of the latter communicate, said chamber being extended at one side only to the exterior of the body so as to provide an entrance and exit and said ports being each formed at its outer end with a socket to receive the end of a pipe; two removable and interchangeableclosures for said entrance and exit, one of which is made plain and the other of which is made with a gate adapted to occupy position within said chamber between Said ports to shut off communication between the latter; bolts for removably fastening either of said closures to said body; of a flange made up of a plurality of segments adapted to be applied to a pipe near one end thereof; bolts for fastening said flange segments together and clamping them on to said pipe, and bolts for fastening said flange to said body to hold the end of said pipe within one of said sockets. V

JOHN GORMAN. 

